Sunday, September 21, 2014

"Preach the Gospel at All Times and if Necessary use Words!"

This week was a pretty sneaky week with productivity. We really didn't
think much about our week until we looked back and realized how many
miracles we were able to see. Monday we taught a man named Samuel and
he was an interesting fellow. His father was a Satanist and his mother
and step father were both Catholics but he clams all of his knowledge
of Christianity and his love for Christ came from his real father
teaching him about Christ. Which was a little interesting and he had a
lot of what we would call the philosophies of man mingled with
scripture. We didn't know why we felt like we needed to stay and talk
with him, we thought it might of been because of his children that
were listening to us but there is more about Samuel later in the week
that made us sure we need to be there.
Tuesday was a great day, we had a chance to meet with our recent
convert Barb and we talk to her for a little bit about how her week
was going. Barb fosters puppies for an organization until they get
better and one of the puppies she was fostering she fell in love with.
She is a single mom of 3 kids, on a fixed income and it wasn't the
smartest thing to do to keep it she thought. She told us she prayed to
know what she should do and she had an over whelming feeling to let it
go and she said it was funny because instead of being all sad about it
she said that she was comforted. The miracle happened next, a few
hours later the foster puppy organization called her up and told her,
That they are going to give her the puppy as a Gift for all the help
that she gives them. She really was so thankful for God and that God
blessed her for putting It in his hands. The spirit was very strong in
that lesson and it was a blessing to see God working in her life. We
told her that the next goal is the temple and she desired to go to the
Nauvoo temple for a goal in a year. Mostly because of how historic it was.
As we were trying to find some new people to teach we tracted into a fella
named Eric. Eric grew up on the south side of Chicago, moved to Dekalb
and now lives in Rochelle, with a lady he takes care of for trade for a
place to sleep. He believe his life is good, and doesn't quite feel
like he needs anything more. He can't read, so it's hard to help him
gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He has also never prayed in
his life, which is another road block to teaching him, he feels even
uncomfortable with praying by trying to pray by himself. Eric is
willing to meet with us though 2 times a week so were trying to find
out how we can help him... It's going to be a fun one.
Friday we had exchanges with the Dekalb Elders. I had the opportunity
to exchange with Elder Freitas in Rochelle. Elder Freitas was called
to serve in Ukraine. And because of the wars out there he got
reassigned to here. We had a great lesson with a young couple, who
first thought we were Jehovah witnesses. There very interested in the
Book of Mormon.
We had a referral the Hermanas gave us which was the second half of
Samuel's story. It was for a man named Steve. Steve gave us 2
addresses one for his home and 2 for the home he was a baby sister for
and the second address was Samuel's home. So we found Steve at Samuel's
and we set up an appointment with him at his home for this week and as
we left Samuel's wife came home and we started talking to her and she
also expressed interest in meeting with us. Something else was up with
us needing to be there. A lot of potential and now God has sent us to
help that family.
Sunday was our last little miracle. We had a the opportunity to teach
an excommunicated members daughter and his mothers friend's daughter
moved in with them and is also interested in learning more about the
gospel because she knows a member from the last town and was interested
in getting answers to questions of the soul of hers.
The work is really progressing here in Rochelle, we pray we can see
more and more growth and soon maybe well have a branch building built
here.
And to top off our week an elder we were out disk golfing with ran a
stop sign with us at the back of the car. And 2 cops were sitting
right there. He was lucky and got 125 buck fine
But to end with a spiritual note. Something I was sharing a lot with
people was the question stated in Alma 5:14 "And now behold, I ask of
you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God ?
Have ye received his image in your countenances ? Have ye experienced
this mighty change in your hearts"
Linking it to Luke 6:20-26
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-048-render-unto-caesar-and-unto-god?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&&lang=eng
Referring to how we are, in the image of God and when we give our
selves to him. We receive is countenance more upon us.
And finishing of the thought with a quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
"Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words."
One of the best ways to share the gospel is to be a good example and
keep the COMMANDMENTS.
-Elder Herdt